Apparatus for generating electrical potential



March 1, 1932. s, RUBEN 1,847,671

APPARATUS FOR GENERATING ELECTRICAL POTENTIAL Original Filed March 6, 1930 4 INVENTOR SAMUEL RUBEN Patented Mar. 1, .1932

UNITED STAITEISIIPATENT"OFFICE sammr. norm, on NEW Became, NEW YORK, assreivon .ro RUBEN rarmv rs com I rm, or new aoonrmnn, muw YORK, a coarom'rron or nnrawana 1 arrm'ros 10B GENERAT NG nnnc'rarcar. r'o'rmv rm Original application fled larch 8, 1980, Serial 119.438380. Divided and this application flied llecember 9, 1930. Serial No. 501,045.

application filed September 23, 1929, bearing Serial Number 393,307, and constitutes" adivision of my application filed March 6, 1930, bearing Serial Number 433,830. An ob ect of the invention is the provision of anf'efiicient device for thermo-chemically generatvdensation, other vapors and means for passing the vain an electrical potential.

%roadly, my invention com rises, a thermally insulated vessel compose preferably of an electrically insulating material, and havin a plurality of chambers connected by suitable conduits, also a;means for heating an amalgam, a means for artlal vapor cona means for the condensation of por from the second condenser area into another chamber in contact with an alkali metal, to a vaporizing temperature in one of the. vessels chambers, to ether withwmeans for carrying ofi' some of t e heat due to the amalgamation in the second chamber, contacting with alkali metal and for connecting the condensed vapor and the amal amating mass'in,

. an external electrical circuit. The device is v which similar to that described in m s'aid co-pendingapplicationbearingSerial umber393,307. However, in the present apparatus a-rectifier means is provided-just ove the vaporization chamber to secure t e condensation and retention within the chamber of all vapors, with the exception of those of the electro-negative element of the amal am reach-' ing that area. A manifoldhavnng .atrap therein extends from above the vap izing chamber to the second amalgamcha ber. The va ors of the electro-negative material,

- .prefera l 'mercury, pass theretlirou h until the reac a region in the manifol within the; are condensed just above the second ch r, passing thence throu hametal conduit having an outlet closely a j acent the condensed vapors forming an amalgam with the alkali metal, a potential being thereby generated. The metal conduit and the amalgani within the second chamber are connected in anexternal electrical circuit. Means are provided for carrying ofii' heat generated by the amalgamation process in the second cham- 'ber. With an increase in the amount ofamalgam in the latter chamber, gravit forces a flow into the vaporization cham er. The

partial cooling process may be assisted by the I presence ofan inert in the vessel. I

Reference is made to the accompanying drawing in whichl represents-an evacuated gas at low pressure with- -vessel having walls of electrically insulating material, 1, an exhaust outlet, 1,, thermal 1nsulat1on for the vessel, 2 the vaporization chamber of the vessel, 2. a chamber for the formation of amalgam, 3' a bod of amalgam within the vaporization cham 'er 2, and 3, a body of potassium or weak amalgam in chamber 2., 4 being the heating means for,"

vaporizing amalgam 3. At 5 is a manifold connecting the two chambers. A lower end ofthe manifold consists of a metal tube 8, having a small orifice closely, adjacent to the level ofthe weak amalgam. Just above the vaporization-chamber are rectifier plates 7, and about the manifold above the second chamber 2 is a'cooling device 7,, for condens- 1ng the electro-negativekmetal or mercury vapor. The chambers 2 and 2, are connected by -an upper conduit having a trap 11, the

lower regions of the chambers being con-' nected b conduit 12. Cooling means 9, sur-- rounds c amber 2 to carry off heat enerated by the amalgamation process. he weak amalglam 3., and the'metal tube 8, are con- 'nectgev in an external electrical circuit respec ivel byleads 14 and 13.

' at' claim is:

; 1. An apparatus for generating electrical r potential comprising a vessel composed of an electrical insulating material partially thermally insulated and having a vaporizing .chamber containing a body of amalgam, an-

other chamber containing another body of ramalgam', a manifold {for the passage. of 9 alkali metal within the second chamber, vthe metal vapors from said. vaporizing chamber,

means for partially condensing said vapors above .the vaporlzing chamber, means for condensing the uncondensed vapors, and

means for discharging said later con-- amalgam, means for connecting the contents of the second mentioned chamber and the metal conductor in an external electrical circuit, and means for heating the content of the first mentioned chamber.

2. An apparatus for generating electrical potential comprising a vessel composed of an electrical insulating material partially thermally insulated and having a vaporizing chamber containing a'body of amalgam, another chamber containing another body of amalgam, a manifold for the passage of metal vapors from said vaporizing chamber, means for partially condensing said vapors, means for condensing the uncondensed vapors, and means fordischarging said later condensed vapors into contact with said second mentioned body of amalgam, said means comprising a metal conductor having an outlet adjacent the second mentioned body of amalgam, a conduit having a trap therein, connecting the upper levels of said bodies of amalgam, another conduit connecting the lower regions of said chambers, means for connecting the contents of the second mentioned chamber and the metal conductor in an external electrical circuit, and means for heating the content of the first mentioned chamber.

3. An apparatus for generating electrical potential comprising a vessel composed of an electrically insulating material partially thermally insulated and having a vaporizing chamber containing a body of amalgam, another chamber containing another body of amalgam, a manifold for the passage of metal vapors from said vaporizing chamber, means for partially condensing said vapors above the vaporizing chamber, means for condensing the uncondensed vapors, and means for discharging said later condensed vapors into contact with said second mentioned body of amalgam, said means comprising a metal conductor having an outlet adjacent the second mentioned amalgam, a conduit connecting said chambers for the passage of amalgam from the second mentioned chamber to the vaporizing chamber, means for connecting the contents of the second mentioned chamber and the metal conductor in an external electrical circuit, means for heating the content of the first mentioned chamber and means for cooling the content of the second mentioned chamber.

4. An apparatus for generating electrical potential comprising a vessel containing an inert gas and composed of. an electrical insulating material partially thermally insulated and having a vaporizing chamber containing a body of amalgam, another chamber containing another body of amalgam, a manifold for the passage of metal vapors from said vaporizing chamber, means for partially condensing said vapors above the vaporizing chamber, means for condensing the uncondensed vapors, and means for discharging said later condensed vapors into contact with said sec ond mentioned body of amalgam, said means comprising a metal conductor having an out let adjacent the second mentioned body of amalgam, a conduit having a trap therein, connecting the upper levels of said bodies of amalgam, another conduit, connecting the lower regions of said chamber, means for connecting the contents of the second mentioned chamber and the metal conductor in an external electrical circuit, and means for heating the content of the first mentioned chamber.

5. An apparatus for generating electrical potential comprising a vessel composed of an electrical insulating material partially thermally insulated and having a vaporizing chamber containing a body of amalgam, another chamber containing another body of amalgam, a manifold for the passage of metal vapors from said vaporizing chamber, means for partially condensing said vapors above the vaporizing chamber, means for condensing the uncondensed vapors adjacent the second mentioned chamber, and means for discharging said later condensed vapors into contact with said second mentioned body of amalgam, said means comprising a metal conductor having an outlet adjacent the second mentioned body of amalgam, a conduit havinga trap therein, connecting the upper levels of said bodies of amalgam, means for connectingthe contents of the second mentioned chamber and the metal conductor in an external electrical circuit, and means for heating the content of the first mentioned chamber.

6. An apparatus for generating electrical potential comprising a'vessel composed of an the content of the first mentioned chamber,

and means for cooling the content of the second mentioned chamber. 7

7. An apparatus for generating electrical potential comprising a vessel composed of an electrical insulating material partially thermally insulated and having an atmosphere containing an inert as, a vaporizing chamber containing a bot y of amalgam, another another body of amalgam, a manifold or the passage of metal vapors from said vaporizing chamber, means for partially condensing said vapors above the vaporizing chamber, means for condensing the uncondensed vapors, and means for discharging said later condensed vapors into contact with said second mentioned body of amalgam, said means comprising a metal conductor having an outlet adjacent the second mentioned body of amalgam, a conduit hav- .ing a trap therein, connecting the upper levels of said bodies of amalgam, means for connecting the contents of the second mentioned chamber and the metal conductor in an external electrical circuit, and means for heating the content of the first mentioned chamber.

8. An apparatus for'generating electrical potential, comprising a thermally insulated vessel having a vaporizing chamber, a second chamber, a manifold connecting said chambers, means for partial vapor condensation adjacent the vaporizing chamber, means for condensing other vapors in the manifold adj acent the second chamber, means for discharging said other condensed vapors in contact with an electrically conductive body between the area of the condensation of said other vapors and the second chamber, means for cooling the condensed vapor in the second chamber, a conduit for discharging fluids di- .-rectly,between the chambers, means for connecting in an electrical circuit the said electrically conductive body and the condensed vapor in the second chamber. I

9. An apparatus for generating electrical potential, comprising a thermally insulated vessel having a vaporizin chamber, a second chamber, a manifolcf connecting said chambers, means'for the partial condensation of vapors adjacent the vaporizing chamber,

means for condensing other vapors in the manifold adjacent the second chamber, means for discharging condensed vapors in contact with an electrically conductive body between the area of said second condensation and the second chamber, a conduit for discharging fluids directly between the chambers, means for connecting in an electrical circuit the said electrically conductive body and the condensed vapor in the second chamber.

10. An apparatusfor generating electrical potential, comprising a thermally insulated vessel having a vaporizing chamber, a second chamber, a manifold connecting said chambers, means for partial vapor condensation adjacent the vaporizing champer, means for condensing other'vapors in the manifold adjacent-the second chamber, means for discharging said other condensed vapors in contact with an electrically conductive body between the area of the condensation of said other vapors and the second chamber, means for cooling the condensed vapor in the second chamber, a conduit for dischargin fluids directly between the chambers, means or connecting'in an electrical circuit the said electrically conductive body and the condensed vapor in the second chamber, and a conduit having a trap therein between the upper regions of the said chambers.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 4th day of December, A. D. 1930.

Y SAMUEL RUBEN. 

